Temperature resistant explosive containing titanium and alkali metal perchlorate



United States Patent 3,309,250 TEMPERATURE RESISTANT EXPLOSIVE CON-TAINING TITANIUM AND ALKALI METAL PERCHLORATE Charles W. Falterman,China Lake, William J. Griffith, lnyokern, and Harold J. Gryting,Ridgecrest, Calif., assignors to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Navy No Drawing. Filed Mar. 24,1965, Ser. No. 442,554 5 Claims. (Cl. 149-42) The invention describedherein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of theUnited States of America for govern-mental purposes without the paymentof any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to temperature resistant explosives andparticularly to a high explosive composition which is stable withoutmelting to above 700 F.

Explosives are conveniently divided into tWo main categories, the highexplosive or detonating explosive, and the low explosive ornondetonating explosive which is used as a propellant. High explosivesare normally initiate-d by a blow from a detonator which is the onlypractical method of providing a shock of sufficient intensity toinitiate the severe processes of detonation, Whereas propellant or'defla-grating explosives are initiated by thermal means such as aflame. Because of the long periods of storage to which high explosivesare subjected and because of the adverse conditions to which they may beexposed, explosives must be as stable as possible. In the field of highexplosives those containing trinitrotoluene (TNT),cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) or cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine(HMX) have athermal stability in the region of 300500 F. The presentinvention is for a heat resistant explosive the components of which havea thermal stability considerably above those known.

It is an object of this invention to provide an explosive for use in thewarheads of missiles.

Another object is to provide a composition which has temperaturestability above 700 F.

A further object is the provision of an explosive which will support adetonation wave of from 2500 to over 3000 meters per second.

Still another object is to provide a temperature resistant explosivewhich is relatively economical to manufacture and is comparatively safeto handle.

Many other objects, features and attendant advantages of this inventionwill become readily appreciated as the same become better understood byreference to the following description.

The present explosive composition which supports a detonation wave ofabout 3000 meters per second and is thermally stable above 700 F.comprises about one mole of titanium powder and about two moles ofpowdered potassium perchlorate. The fine powders (less than 20g particlesize) were screened and dry blended, then loaded into preforrns about4.5 inches in diameter. The composition having a density of about 1.4g./ cc. supported a detonation wave up to 3000 meters per second.Particle size affects the rate of detonation and particles of up to 20microns proved successful.

'One batch of the explosive consisting of 14 percent by weight titaniumpowder and 86 percent by weight potassium perchlorate exhibited thermalstability to above 700 F., and loaded into a preform five inches indiameter supported a detonation wave of over 3000 meters per second. Itdid not melt below 800 F. and the standard autoignition temperature wasabout 850 F.

Another batch comprising 12.5 percent by weight titanium powder and 87.5percent by weight potassium perchlorate was mixed and loaded into a fiveinch pre- 'ice form. It consistently supported a detonation wave in therange of 2700 to 3000 meters per second and did not melt below 800 F.

It was found that the percentage composition is critical to thisinvention. A composition containing from 11 to 14 percent by weighttitanium .is detonatable with potassium perchlorate. Amounts of titaniumover 16 percent by weight would burn with a powerful oxidizer such aspotassium perchlorate but would not detonate. Other metals and fuelswere substituted for the titanium, but failed to support the shock waveunder experimental conditions. These materials included magnesium,aluminum, boron and carbon.

Because sodium perchlorate is similar to potassium perchlorate inchemical structure, it may also be used with titanium powder within thesame molar ratios established with the potassium perchlorate; namely,two moles of sodium perchlorate to one mole of titanium.

Modifications and variations of the present invention are possible inthe light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood thatwithin the scope of the appended claims the .invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed isz 1. A temperature resistant explosive comprising onemole of titanium and two moles of oxidizer;

said oxidizer being a member selected from the group consisting ofpotassium perchlorate and sodium perchlorate.

2. A temperature resistant explosive comprising the followingingredients:

Percent by wt. Titanium 11-14 Potassium perchlorate 86-89 3. Atemperature resistant explosive comprising the following ingredients:

Percent by wt.

Titanium 12.5

Potassium perchlorate 87.5

4. A temperature resistant explosive comprising the followingingredients:

Percent by wt.

Titanium 14 Potassium perchlorate 86 References Cited by the ExaminerUNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1934 Decker et al. 14942 X 8/1935 Becker et al.14942 X References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS2,369,517 2/1945 Ba gley. 3,019,687 2/1962 Gongwer. 3,120,459 2/1964Coates et al.

CARL D. QUARFORTH, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN R. PADGETT, Examiner.

S. J. LECHERT, 1a., Assistant Examiner.

1. A TEMPERATURE RESISTANT EXPLOSIVE COMPRISING ONE MOLE OF TITANIUM ANDTWO MOLES OF OXIDIZER; SAID OXIDIZER BEING A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THEGROUP CONSISTING OF POTASSIUM PERCHLORATE AND SODIUM PERCHLORATE.